What is #coffeeoutside?
As summarized by the good folks at ridewithgps.com, #coffeeoutside is
“a loosely defined social phenomenon whereby cycling enthusiasts meet at a specified time and location to hand-make coffee, enjoy snacks, and meet with friends, outside, oftentimes despite the weather.”
Who’s it for? Anyone and everyone who likes bicycle rides, tasty beverages, and good company and conversation.
What do I bring? All you’ll need is yourself, your bike, water, and a mug or insulated cup to drink from. If you prefer, you can bring a beverage you made at home or picked up on the way. If you’ve got an outdoor-friendly setup for brewing coffee, pack it with you and get in on the fun. This might include:
- Coffee beans, which you can grind at home or bring whole
- A hand grinder to grind whole beans if you’ve got ‘em
- A coffee maker, like:
- An Aeropress®
- A non-breakable pourover setup
- A stovetop espresso maker (or Moka pot)
- A camping French press
- A percolator
- An Aeropress®
- A camping stove to boil water, along with fuel and something to light your fire
- A pot to boil water in, unless you use a stovetop espresso maker or percolator, which can go right onto your stove
- If you’re not into coffee, bring tea/hot cocoa mix/hot cider… whatever shakes your maraca
Don’t forget to bring a camera—phone or standalone—to capture some photos and share them on social media with the hashtags #coffeeoutside and #coffeeoutsideFDK (naturally).
When and where is this happening? #coffeeoutside gatherings have been taking place all over the world for over a decade. While some of us in the Frederick area have been stopping mid-ride to hang out and brew coffee for just as long, Frederick never hosted an official regular #coffeeoutside ride… until now.
We meet the last Wednesday of every month from around 7:30 a.m. until around 8:30 a.m. Our ride destination is posted by 8 p.m. the night before each ride on this site’s homepage, in the Frederick County Cyclists Facebook group (membership required), and on Instagram @gravelandgrind.
For those wanting to ride together to the destination, a group departs at 7 a.m. from Gravel & Grind at 15 E 6th St in Frederick.
What about the weather? Our #coffeeoutside rides are generally fair-weather experiences (except for snow, because snow riding is objectively awesome). If the weather looks iffy or there’s active precipitation by 7 a.m. the morning of the ride, it will most likely be cancelled.
What bike do I ride to get there? Ride the bike you’ve got. #coffeeoutside rides are intentionally shorter in distance—depending on your starting point—and casually paced, so any bike should do. Make sure that it’s properly tuned up before you set out and that you can safely transport whatever coffee-making gear you want to bring with you. Front or rear racks, bike bags (handlebar, saddle, frame, panniers, etc.), and baskets are all useful in this regard.
Where do I learn more? Check out the links and videos below for some background information and a better sense of what to expect: